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Things not to do for the Health of your Heart

There are some things you cannot control when it comes to heart health like getting older, or having a parent or a close family member with heart disease. But there are many more things you can do to lower the chances of wrecking your heart.

Here’s a lowdown on things not to do to help your ticker keep on keeping on:
Smoking- Smoking is a major heart disease cause, it raises blood pressure, causes blood clots, and lowers HDL (good cholesterol) levels. At the same time, it’s the number one preventable cause of premature death in the U.S. Although it may be one of the most difficult habits to quit, but the rewards of quitting smoking are perhaps the greatest and the most immediate. Your heart risk goes down within just a few days of quitting smoking. Your risk is cut by half within a year.


Brushing Aside Chest Pain- The right time to get checked out is when your ticker literally aches and you don’t exactly know why. Having chest pains while exercising is a red flag. But if it occurs after a heavy meal, it’s more likely to be your stomach causing trouble. Call 911 immediately if you feel like an elephant is sitting on your chest and you’re breaking out in a sweat as heart pain feels more like a pressure rather than actual pain. You need to seek medical attention in person to get a definitive answer for chest pain as it’s difficult for even doctors to tell if you’re in real trouble over the phone.

Skipping Checkups- It is very important to get checked out regularly by a doctor to realize if you have some of the silent heart risk factors that are harder to detect. High cholesterol and high blood pressure are the most common, symptom-free cardiovascular issues and some of the most easily treated as well.

Sedentary Life- Leading a sedentary lifestyle increases heart risks. Regular physical exercise is a must as exercise helps lower blood pressure, improves cholesterol levels, encourages weight loss, benefits blood vessel function, and cuts stress, among other things. Consult with your doctor before starting a new fitness regimen.

Stop Taking Heart Medications- You may be heading for a cardiac catastrophe if you stop taking your heart medications. Do not stop a heart medication or adjust the dosage without first talking to your doctor.

Eat with Abandon- Being overweight or obese leads to heart disease, heart failure (HF), and a shorter lifespan. Eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and nuts; low in saturated fat and cholesterol; and with almost no trans fats. You aren’t required to avoid fat altogether as fats found in fish, olives and olive oil, nuts, and avocados are heart-healthy but eat in moderation. Reduce your calorie intake by 100 calories per day which will result in a 10 pound weight loss over a year. Remember, even moderate weight loss can improve risk factors.

Leave your Blood Pressure Elevated- Leaving your blood pressure elevated and untreated is a good way to sabotage your ticker. Blood pressure going out of hand makes the ticker work harder which can lead to HF eventually. Furthermore, it can cause hardened arteries that raises risks for heart attack, stroke and other problems.

Heart disease increases the risk for cardiac emergencies like a cardiac arrest. Contribute towards the safety of cardiac arrest victims by getting CPR trained at the AHA certified CPR Indianapolis. Both theoretical and practical training are imparted in the life-saving procedure.
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